Gender and G-RAP

Gender

G-RAP recognises that the most denied and the poorest of Ghana’s poor are women and that meaningful approaches to reducing poverty require addressing gender disparity.

Since its commencement in September 2004, G-RAP has journeyed a considerable way in engendering its programmes, policies, procedures and activities. In 2004 G-RAP was criticised by Ghana’s leading women’s equality network – Netright – for not having incorporated gender into its design. This criticism was acknowledged and a productive partnership was forged between Programme Management, Research and Advocacy Organisations and Donors to transform the situation. Two years later the participatory approach adopted in engendering G-RAP is acknowledged as best practice, with Programme Management and RAOs embracing the process with almost total commitment.

A Gender Steering Committee is composed of representatives of Donors, RAOs, Programme Management and gender specialists from civil society organisations. The Committee overviews gender issues as well as opportunities within the G-RAP environment. There is also a network of ‘Link Persons’, with each RAO having a designated staff member responsible for engendering their organisations. Each ‘Link’ has the option of meeting monthly in a facilitated Action Learning Set to discuss gender implementation issues. New organisations joining G-RAP are able to join the Link network.

* The links below lead to some of the tools developed by G-RAP:

• G-rap Gender Policy 2007
• Gender Checklist - Applications
• Gender Checklist - RAOs
• Gender Checklist - Programme Management
• G-rap 2006 Gender Analysis Report
• G-rap 2006 Gender Analysis Brief
• G-rap 2007 Engendering Report

* Other links to relevant documents:

• Ahadzie 2006 Gender Analysis of Ghana 2006 Budget
• DANIDA gender equality 2005-07
• UNDP 2002 Gender Mainstreaming Handbook

* Guiding principles of G-RAP’s gender sensitive approach:

1. Gender equality is important for effective pro-poor programming and sustainable development;
2. Feminized poverty in Ghana demands programmes that target women’s needs and challenges - at all levels, local and national;
3. A strong gender sensitive policy environment is critical for driving the process of change;
4. Programmes and projects that have in-built gender responsive mechanisms yield gender equitable benefits;
5. Equity, which is premised on benefits and vulnerability analysis, is central to growth-oriented pro-poor programming;
6. Research that generates gender disaggregated data adds value to policy influencing toward greater equity;
7. Effective accountability should prioritize economic growth and social/gender justice equally;
8. Evidence-based research that affords the analysis of the particular spaces of disadvantage, including gender, appeals to policy makers and;
9. Organizational leadership of the highest order and systematic programming are essential for effective mainstreaming.